Mother Love Bone mural outside Easy Street Records

demetrios

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demetrios

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asmanyweirdosaspossible

easystreetrecords

This story hasn’t been shared publicly, until now.

On the south-facing wall of a 99-year-old landmark in West Seattle, two murals keep watch over the corner of California and Alaska.

One is a portrait of @soundgarden’s @chriscornellofficial, designed by Jeff Ament of @pearljam, his brother Barry Ament (of @amesbros), and artist Joe Spix [@waytojoe], and brought to life by muralist Son Duong [@sun_of_a_gun1969]. The other is a tribute to Mother Love Bone, painted by Jeff himself.

When the Mother Love Bone mural was defaced, longtime Pearl Jam archivist Kevin Shuss quietly returned to the wall. No announcement. No fanfare. Just a silent act of care…painting an image of Mother Love Bone’s Andy Wood over the graffiti. 

That kind of devotion is what keeps a community alive and it’s the same spirit that moved artist @rosettagreek to build her latest miniature: a 1/2-inch scale replica of @easystreetrecords, housed in West Seattle’s [@westseattlejuntion] 99-year-old Hamm building. Like its inspiration, this tiny replica stands for something far bigger than itself.

Rosetta is graciously donating this piece to help @asmanyweirdosasposdible raise funds so we can keep sharing the stories no one else is telling. Because that’s what this project is all about: the people, the places, and the moments that don’t always make the headlines but absolutely make the scene.

👉 Follow along. There’s more to come from “The Corner of California and Alaska.”

📸 Photo Credits:
• Jeff Ament in front of Mother Love Bone mural: @easystreettrecords website 
• Son Duong next to Chris Cornell mural:  @patrick_robinson_photographer
• Andy Wood mural: Kevin Shuss 
• Miniature Andy Wood mural: @rosettagreek
• Miniature Chris Cornell mural: @rosettagreek

#asmanyweirdosaspossible #seattlemusic #chriscornell #soundgarden #pearljam #recordstores #motherlovebone #andywood #pnwmusic #miniaturebuilding #miniaturepainting #muralartist #muralstreetart

demetrios

rosettagreek

It’s finished.

The Corner of California and Alaska
Total hours worked: 244.75

“If you feel safe in the area that you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth, and when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.“
- David Bowie

#asmanyweirdosaspossible #easystreetrecords #easystreet #miniature #miniatureart #miniatureartist #miniart #diorama #westseattle #seattle #music #seattlemusic #seattlemusicscene #handcrafted #oneofakind #ooak #brandicarlile #duffmckagan #chriscornell #soundgarden #sirmixalot #mudhoney #aliceinchains #jerrycantrell #macklemore #heart #melvins #motherlovebone #landmark #laboroflove

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Pap

I took these pictures while in Seattle for the two Home Shows (May 2024):

demetrios

^ Beautiful! 

demetrios

Via 10club newsletter ..

An Enduring Mural

Accompanying the legacy of Mother Love Bone’s music is a persevering creative community, as highlighted in August’s telling of Ten Club’s origin story (Read). This month, see how a mural local to Seattle also captures the resilient spirit of art, music, and our neighbors.

From the late 80s to the club’s relocation in ‘99, Mother Love Bone’s name neatly coated The Vogue’s brick exterior, allegedly painted by the band’s bassist. Inside The Vogue, defining moments of Seattle’s music scene shook those art-decked walls including gigs by MLB, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and many more, plus the debut performances of Nirvana and Mudhoney!

In May 2016, Jeff recreated the narrow Mother Love Bone letters on Easy Street Records’s southern wall, expanding the mural with a polychromatic blend of the band’s various emblems.

Later that same year, Stardog Records reissued Mother Love Bone’s catalog via On Earth As It Is: The Complete Works, featuring the mural as the release’s artwork. Previously unheard songs, demos, and various sessions were included in the album, listen (Here).

A year after the mural’s completion, its appreciators were disappointed to learn of its overnight defacement in Spring 2017.

Fear not! Stencil artist plus PJ’s longtime videographer and archivist Kevin Shuss was quick to respond to the vandalizer’s act of disrespect. Now a portrait of Mother Love Bone’s lead vocalist Andy Wood sits just below the centerpiece name. Thank you, Kevin!

This mural and several others layering Easy Street draw in many visitors and aficionados today! Artist Rosetta Greek recently showed how expansive creativity and inspiration can be with a miniature recreation of the indie music shop, murals and all. Learn more about Rosetta’s piece (Here).